Friends and family to say final farewell to teenage Sheffield Wednesday fan

Claire Lewis

Friends and relatives of a Sheffield Wednesday fan who died at the age of 13 are to attend his funeral tomorrow.

Thomas Bothamley died of a heart condition on Friday, July 8 - mirroring the tragic death of his young father, Ryan Bothamley, who was just 15 when he died of sudden adult death syndrome in 2002, before Thomas was born.

Thomas, just like his dad, was a talented football player who dreamed of making it as a professional.

The teenager had trials with Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester United when he was seven and trained with Rotherham United last year.

His dad was in the Sheffield Wednesday academy before he died.

Thomas, who was a pupil at Wickersley School, was a Sheffield Wednesday season ticket holder, who sat in the South Stand with his granddad.

He played for Wickersley Youth's u14s team.

Friends have been asked to wear Sheffield Wednesday colours at his funeral, with his Wickersley team mates expected to wear their kits.

The funeral is set to take place at St Alban's church, Wickersley, at noon, followed by a service at Rotherham Crematorium, Herringthorpe.